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What we are is God’s gift to us, what we do with ourselves is our gift to God. ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows’ -James 1:17(NIV)

With the gifts he has given us what do we give him in return we ask ourselves?

Do we sometimes do what we want before putting God’s preference first?
I know I do and that prevents serving Him in the way He has wanted.

God is the Father of all light who created the sun and stars in the heavens – How amazing is that?
He said ‘Let there be light and there was light’. Our sun rises and sets and it’s rhythm is unchanging as is God’s unconditional love for us all.

From God comes every good and perfect gift relating to this life and that which is to come. He has given us the gift of renewing ourselves through the power of forgiveness and grace.

Can we open ourselves to His light of faith and offer our gifts to those around us with a servant heart?

In doing so we can ask for His guidance in achieving His will and give him the first fruits of our labours as our gift to Him.

Make someone feel special today by offering a gift and see the delight it brings.

Last week I read the following article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1192056/This-Life-Sarah-Oliver-finding-God.html in one of the Sunday supplements and several things struck me.
Sarah Oliver ‘didn’t mean to find God’ but explains her story in the article and uses phrases like – ‘because I finally found a church to which I wanted to belong’….’mostly I like the people’….’a simple and vigorous Christian kindness’. A hugely positive article it ends with ‘in these economically and morally troubled times religion is finally reprising its traditional role as society’s storm anchor. Amen to that’.
Do read the article and then get together with a few friends and discuss it over a drink. What lessons are there for us to learn? What does it say about people’s attitude to church today?

And while you’re at it, take a look at this YouTube clip and compare your discussions about Sarah Oliver’s article with your thoughts on Chris Moyles Talks up Church – www.youtube.com/watch?v=StEDAjhuiTo . This is a 6 minute clip from Chris Moyles Radio 1 show where he chats about his impressions of seeing the Sunday service, almost by accident, the previous day. We see the service going on as he uses words like ‘amazing’ and ‘awesome’ . It will certainly give you and your friends something to talk about. Again what does it say about our society, people’s perceptions of church and Christians and what can we learn? Let us know your conclusions – we’d love to have your feedback.

Another great summer idea from Macmillan. The Big Picnic – http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Get_Involved/Big_Picnic/The_Big_Picnic.aspx is their latest idea and one all of us could get involved with. What better way to have fun with others in our community while raising money for a good cause. Take a look at the website, where all the resources you;ll need for a great event are easily accessible. We’d love to hear about your picnic.

If you’re looking for a new idea, then you might consider Jamie Oliver’s latest initiative – a new party plan idea – Jamie at Home. Opportunities to start your own small business – great for making contacts or just to host a party. My contact is Karen Tyas on 07828 689984 – she’s based in South Yorkshire but could give details of other agents around the country..

“June is busting out all over…” There are only a few more days left to sing this song as Midsummer’s day has now been and gone. The song reminds me of my late father who once told me with great glee that when the musical ‘Carousel’ first came out he and his mates used to whistle or sing it loudly in the streets, much to the embarrassment of a local girl called June who was blessed (or not) with an ample bosom!

We don’t hear many people singing and whistling in the streets these days but Musicals are still very popular and sing-along events draw great crowds. Mama Mia is a perfect example of that and those of us who have put on an event using the DVD can testify to its success. It’s currently on SKY TV and we think it will be around for years to come – so if you haven’t tried it yet (or even if you have) then you’ll get the chance to sample it at the weekend away in November.

People love to sing and it is so good for you. My friend Nicola and I were chatting about exactly that earlier this year. I was reminiscing about the occasional choir at my last parish and she was saying how much she missed leading the local school choir since she left and became a travelling Piano teacher. I think she calls herself Peripatetic but I can’t spell that!

Anyway one of us casually said “We should start a choir” and we stared at each other as the potential began to dawn. We went away to ponder the possibilities, and practicalities.

Nicola’s husband is the Pastor of Mill Lane Independent Methodist Church in the heart of our community and they had been thinking about how they might serve the local area, for which they pray regularly. When we voiced our idea they offered us the use of their cosy little church building, the cover of their liability insurance and music license, and the use of the kitchen afterwards for refreshments. A door had opened wide and the invitation was clear.

We sent an email to the local newspaper saying we were going to meet to sing for fun and wellbeing. No auditions, everyone welcome. They ran it as a News feature and our phones started ringing. About a dozen people rang to say they wanted to come. Our opening night was March 25th this year and 22 people turned up. Some people we knew by sight, some were from local churches but others had no church connection. The unanimous comment was “I’ve been looking for something like this for years”.

A great bonus was the arrival of my daughter’s friend Kathryn, a professional musician, who offered to conduct the choir and help us learn new songs. She lives 15 miles away but comes because she enjoys it and insists it looks good on her CV. We have to literally force her to accept petrol money. We don’t charge anyone for coming but have a basket for donations and it covers all expenses and enables us to give donations to the little church as a thank you for their open handed hospitality.

A computer teacher within the group designed, printed and laminated some posters for us and 3 months on we have doubled in numbers. The question kept being voiced “What shall we call ourselves?” Several names were suggested and everyone voted – the winner being “All Singers Great and Small”. Very appropriate as the ages range from 11-80 (the majority being women 30-50) and we are an eclectic mix of experience and abilities.

People have brought friends and family along, but friendships have also sprung up within the choir. Everyone helps with drinks and washing up, some even bring cakes. One person announced a Garden party with a raffle for Charity and someone else in the group painted and donated a fabulous framed landscape picture to the cause.

The atmosphere week by week is warm and enthusiastic, with lots of laughter and banter. It’s great to be part of it and the singing is top quality. We’re now planning a concert, just for our nearest and dearest, on August 19th preceded by a ‘Jacob’s Join’ tea. In addition to choir songs, people are offering to introduce items, sing solo, or in duets and small groups. Some of the songs are funny, others heart-stoppingly beautiful, and it promises to be a great evening. A choir member is designing the programme.

On the first night we were so encouraged and choked by the turn-out that we asked if we could just say “thank you” to God at the end. No one seemed in the least phased by this and a brief final prayer and blessing is now an accepted part of the proceedings.

On one occasion I actually read out the Aaronic/ Priestly blessing from the book of Numbers in my big battered Bible and mentioned the John Rutter song “The Lord Bless You & Keep You” which echoes the prayer. We’ve just included it into our repertoire which otherwise consists of a mixture of Songs from the Shows, Pop Classics and Folk Songs.

Recently I was away on retreat with local clergy. The choir members all knew about it and teased me about the improbability of maintaining silence for any length of time. While I was away someone suggested that they should secretly learn the theme tune to The Vicar of Dibley. They all think it’s a great hoot and obviously I saw the funny side, but I love the song and just think “Praise God they are singing Psalm 23”.

The choir continues to grow and go from strength to strength. Mill Lane Church have invited us to sing at their Harvest Service and there were lots of assenting nods when we announced it, so we’ll see what happens next. That’s the Boss’s department.

We just offered him our dream and we turn up week by week to see what he does with it. We’ve got our music in alphabetical order in our folders. The first one is “Any dream will do”. It was the first song we attempted and I can’t help thinking that those words are prophetic. Why not trust him with yours?

Jan Harney.

Have you ever been like me and thought just about everyone else has got it all sorted?
We might like to be really great, the person everyone looks up to.
How can we do it?
Some may think it’s about how much money we have or how famous we are. It may be that we think everyone else is in control and looks so amazing so why can’t we!

Jesus said true greatness comes from helping and caring for others ( Matthew-23:11-12) ‘Whoever is your servant is the greatest among you. Whoever makes himself great will be made humble. Whoever makes himself humble will be made great’ (NCV). Christ came for you and me to show us by example His greatness in serving and meeting others needs.

Instead of seeking chief seats in the synagogues and at feasts, and titles that would exalt him above others, Jesus sought to become the servant of all. Service is the way to honour and when we are humbled in that lowly place among people in our daily service, God honours and rewards us.

When we humble ourselves, we can see and endeavour to meet the needs of those around us. It might be in making that phone call to someone we know, writing an overdue letter or by simply taking the time to listen to those we encounter every day.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and follow true greatness and get stuck in!

The ITV show Britain’s Got Talent has reached the semi-final stage and an unknown, unmarried and unemployed 47 year old woman from Scotland called Susan Boyle has just got through to Saturday’s final (May 30th). Within days of her original performance the video clip of her singing ‘I dreamed a dream’ had been viewed by 25 million people around the world, this for a woman who did not even own a computer! Why did her performance have such an impact? Partly because as soon as she began to sing it became clear that she had an amazing voice, partly because she sang an emotional song about having a dream but mostly the reason she shot to fame was because she just didn’t look like a star. It was her very obvious ordinariness that lulled the audience into thinking ‘here comes another deluded individual with an unrealistic belief in her own ability’. In the papers following her performance she was described as having the eyebrows of a roman emperor, and said herself that she thought she looked like a garage! She was the type of middle aged woman who sits behind you on the bus into town and you barely notice her. She didn’t have the walk. She didn’t have the dress-sense, she didn’t have the hair, the face, the figure, but, oh boy, did she have the voice.
What Susan’s story tells us is that we have come to expect that talent will come in a certain ‘package’. It is no longer simply enough for someone to have an extraordinary voice, they have to also look the part. If you’d closed your eyes throughout the video clip you’d still be impressed by her voice, it would be no less good. So why should her looks (or lack of them) be so much a part of her story? Why do we not expect middle aged people with bushy eyebrows and frumpy hair to have an extraordinary talent? Why shouldn’t they?
The theme of this November’s Activate conference is that we are all ‘extraordinarily ordinary’. Each of us has a talent, passion, or ability that we can use to extraordinary effect. When we find, discover and step out into that calling all of us can profoundly impact our families, our neighbourhoods,our friends,our colleagues and yes even the world. We might not end up on youtube, we might not win a talent contest but the world will be a different place if we have stepped up to be all we can be.
Susan now has tidy eyebrows and new hair colour but other than that she seemed, refreshingly, the same slightly wacky person with a wonderful voice. Whether or not she wins already seems completely irrelevant, she has been an inspiration and a wake up call reminding us that we are all ‘extraordinarily ordinary’